Maternal haematocrit in labour is related to fetal cord pH at delivery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a correlation exists between maternal haematocrit in labour and umbilical cord pH values at delivery.


METHODS
An observational study.


METHODS
The delivery suite.


METHODS
200 pregnant women in labour.


METHODS
Umbilical artery and vein blood pH values.


RESULTS
A statistically significant inverse correlation was observed between maternal haematocrit levels during labour and umbilical vein pH (r = -0.22; P = 0.001) and umbilical artery pH (r = -0.18; P = 0.008) at delivery.


CONCLUSIONS
Although an inverse correlation does appear to exist between maternal haematocrit and cord pH values, it is unlikely that this weak association will prove to be of clinical value in the management of labour.
Saunders
N J
NJ
Northern General Hospital, Sheffield.
Spiby
H
H
Patel
D
D
D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000502:physiology*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy